The Kirkus Prize is one of the richest literary awards in the world, with a prize of $50,000 bestowed annually to authors of fiction, nonfiction and young readers’ literature. It was created to celebrate the 81 years of discerning, thoughtful criticism Kirkus Reviews has contributed to both the publishing industry and readers at large. Books that earned the Kirkus Star with publication dates between November 1, 2015, and October 31, 2016 (see FAQ for exceptions), are automatically nominated for the 2016 Kirkus Prize, and the winners will be selected on November 3, 2016, by an esteemed panel composed of nationally respected writers and highly regarded booksellers, librarians and Kirkus critics.

KIRKUS REVIEW

A selection of brief outdoor adventures in an appealing nature title. In her first book, Busch's descriptions are vivid: ``Each time the [gold] beetle changes, it resembles a different jewel. On the leaf it looks like a piece of molten gold. Once it is in the bottle, the gold disappears and it becomes bright opal. Then it changes to a milky white jewel of mother-of-pearl.'' While some of the investigations require a rural setting, many of the adventures will please urban observers, too. But not every activity seems safe and not all come with safety precautions, e.g., those who create their own igloos may risk suffocation. The capable black-and-white illustrations range from realistic renderings of plants and animals to atmospheric scenes of exploration. (further reading, index) (Nonfiction 8-12)

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